The Malta Independent on Sunday
Opening an art gallery in Covid-19 times
RUDY BUHLER
is the founder and owner of Buhler Art – the Colour Project – Art Space in Marsascala. He decided to set it up in Malta because of its rich history and the warmth of its people. Also because it is easy for him to go and visit his daughters in Switzerland and for them to visit him here. Finally, as a painter and art lover Malta provides him with the quality of light, the sea, the vibrant art scene and the high standing the arts enjoy in Malta’s history and culture. Now retired and here from Switzerland it is obvious he is not going to allow any pandemic to frustrate his plans.
T “here came a point in my plan to open the very first art gallery in the south of Malta in Marsascala, when I had to decide on a date, what I thought of as “The grand opening of Rudy Buhler Art – The Colour Project.” Considering the progress made to refurbish the premises in a new building on the promenade, I eventually decided on 27 March 2020. Little did I know that my plans, which had started over a year prior to that date with a detailed business plan and cost/revenue projections, were hardly worth the paper they were written on. Covid-19 had its own plans and schedule and I could only succumb to the inevitable.
So, back to the drawing board: Discuss and agree with the well known Maltese painter Anna Galea, who had kindly accepted to be the first to exhibit at my gallery, to postpone showing her abstract watercolours indefinitely. Furthermore, cancel the red carpet and the catering, the invitations to the Hon. MP Minister José Herrera and the local council; to family and friends in Switzerland who had already booked their flights and accommodation; to members of the local and international artist community and to local acquaintances. It was little consolation that at least I had become familiar with the process of organising an opening night!
The lockdown period March / April / May 2020 was hard. The hectic weeks in February and early March left me with no energy and the uncertainty drained my mental and monetary resources. I was unable to meet with the people with whom I had carefully selected to discuss future projects, such as masterclasses, live painting sessions, pre-dinner drinks receptions in an artistic environment, literary and musical events and art presentations to schools, colleges and university students. I also had to postpone my marketing and promotional efforts to present the gallery to corporations, hotels, NGOs and possibly charities.
So what next? Luckily I had some canvasses, paints and brushes, so I started painting again at home. Although not very motivated, with practice the inspiration gradually came back and I managed to finish two paintings, but I missed something that I had set out to do in the first place: the exciting and never dull business side of art, namely planning, setting up and running the gallery and exhibitions.
Fast forward to June 2020: Once the government allowed certain establishments to open again, I tentatively and without an official event opened the doors of Rudy Buhler Art - The Colour Project. Since my exhibition plans had all gone haywire, I unwrapped my own
30 or so paintings, hung them on the walls, moved them around from here to there, set up a desk, installed my special red sofa and waited and waited… all the time posting on Facebook that I was now open for business.
I also got in touch again with the local artist Rosette Bonello whom I had known for some time and with whom I had agreed to exhibit her work perhaps early next year.
Luckily Rosette consented to do a solo show almost immediately because most of her paintings were at her studio and at her home in Marsascala. So on 3 July we
had the opening night with all necessary precautions which were by now the new normal. It was all arranged in a rush but the success was overwhelming: Over 200 art lovers visited the gallery during the exhibition in July 2020. Rosette and I were overjoyed to receive so much positive feedback and were shown so much goodwill towards her art and my gallery. And to top it all: We even sold some of Rosette’s paintings.
In the meantime I resumed a discussion about a possible exhibition with the Maltese sculptor Censu Fenech, winner of the Malta Society of Arts overall category in 2014. Censu has at his home an amazing number of sculptures which he had created over the last 20 to 25 years and still continues to do so. There was certainly no lack of sculptures to choose from. Unfortunately he was still recovering from back surgery and was not sure when he would be ready to commit himself to an exhibition. So, out came again my own paintings which had by now become the default exhibits at my gallery. Whilst Censu’s recovery progressed well we agreed on a September / October 2020 exhibition. Exhibition now over we can say the exhibition was a resounding success in terms of number of visitors and sculptures which found a new home.
Has Covid-19 had an impact on my art gallery project? Yes, definitely. It caused unexpected delays, anguish, sleepless nights and raised doubts about the feasibility of the project. However, as we are slowly coming out of the covid-19 tunnel, one hopes, I am more optimistic and determined than ever to – as one visitor to the gallery called it – pioneer the artistic development in the south of Malta in general and in Marsascala in particular, and to establish and develop my little gem of an art gallery.”
Editorial Note: If you wish to contribute your own Covid diary please email mbenoit@hotmail.co.uk